droxidopa

What is the most important information I should know about droxidopa?

Droxidopa can increase your blood pressure even while you are lying down. You may need to keep your head elevated during sleep to help prevent high blood pressure. Follow your doctor's instructions about how to position your body while you are lying down or sleeping.

Your blood pressure will need to be checked before and during treatment with droxidopa, or whenever your dose is changed. Check your blood pressure while you are lying down, and check it again with your head elevated.

What is droxidopa?

Droxidopa works by constricting (narrowing) the blood vessels and increasing blood pressure.

Droxidopa is used to treat low blood pressure that causes severe dizziness or a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out.

This medicine is for use in people with conditions of the nervous system that can cause low blood pressure (such as Parkinson's disease, multiple system atrophy, autonomic failure, and others).

Droxidopa may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking droxidopa?

To make sure droxidopa is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

• heart disease;
• history of heart attack or stroke;
• high blood pressure;
• kidney disease;
• asthma, or a history of severe allergic reaction to aspirin, especially aspirin triad syndrome; or
• if you are allergic to yellow food dye.

How should I take droxidopa?

Follow all directions on your prescription label. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results. Do not take this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.

Droxidopa is usually taken 3 times per day, as follows. First dose in the morning when you wake up; second dose at mid-day; third dose in the late afternoon or at least 3 hours before you go to bed. The timing of your doses is very important in helping to maintain a healthy blood pressure while you are taking droxidopa. Follow your doctor's dosing instructions very carefully.

You may take droxidopa with or without food, but take it the same way each time.

Droxidopa can increase your blood pressure even while you are lying down or sleeping (when blood pressure is usually lowest). Long-term high blood pressure (hypertension) can lead to heart attack or stroke, which may be fatal.

Your blood pressure will need to be checked before and during treatment with droxidopa, or whenever your dose is changed. Check your blood pressure while you are lying down, and check it again with your head elevated.

Your doctor will need to check your progress at regular visits if you use droxidopa for longer than 2 weeks.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose, or if your bedtime is less than 3 hours away. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

Do not take the medicine less than 3 hours before bedtime.

What happens if I overdose?

What should I avoid while taking droxidopa?

What are the possible side effects of droxidopa?

• severe dizziness or light-headed feeling;
• confusion, fever;
• pain or burning when you urinate;
• dangerously high blood pressure --severe headache, blurred vision, buzzing in your ears, anxiety, confusion, chest pain, shortness of breath, uneven heartbeats, seizure; or
• severe nervous system reaction --very stiff (rigid) muscles, high fever, sweating, confusion, fast or uneven heartbeats, tremors, feeling like you might pass out.

Common side effects may include:

• headache, dizziness;
• nausea; or
• increased blood pressure.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect droxidopa?

Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any you start or stop using, especially:

• linezolid.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with droxidopa, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about droxidopa.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

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